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Compare towns

Ferndale vs Mariposa

314 miles apart. The biggest differences: home values (2× in Ferndale) and growth since 2010 (+31.8 pts in Ferndale).

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Ferndale, CAA history townCalifornia · 1,552 people
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Mariposa, CAA regional job hubCalifornia · 1,137 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

FerndaleA history town
HistorySettled in 18937 places on the National Register Housing$498K typical home35% below the CA typical home SchoolsBetter than 32%of CA districts All about Ferndale →
MariposaA regional job hub
Work2,510 jobsbased in Mariposa, a regional job hub Housing$391K typical home49% below the CA typical home All about Mariposa →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Home values2×
Homes cost more in Ferndale
Ferndale $542,000Mariposa $270,900
Growth since 2010+31.8 pts
Ferndale has grown faster since 2010
Ferndale +2%Mariposa -29.8%
Jobs per worker4.1×
Mariposa is more of a job hub
Mariposa 4.51Ferndale 1.11
Rent+73%
Rent runs higher in Ferndale
Ferndale $1,028Mariposa $593
Trails2.8×
Ferndale has more miles of trail
Ferndale 3.6 miMariposa 1.3 mi
Street grid2×
Ferndale has the more walkable street grid
Ferndale 59.0Mariposa 29.6
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Ferndale

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Ferndale$2,850/mo
Typical home $498K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $1,028/mo · Housing →
Mariposa$2,640/mo
Typical home $391K (Zillow) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $593/mo · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,600 a year, between Ferndale and Mariposa.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
B−FerndaleSafer than 51% of U.S. towns –MariposaNot graded
Schools
CFerndaleBetter than 32% of districts in the state B−MariposaBetter than 50% of districts in the state
Health
C+FerndaleHealthier than 43% of U.S. towns B−MariposaHealthier than 50% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
FerndaleMariposa
Snow a year0″—
January low41°F—
July high63°F—
Growing season (days)293d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)98th90th
Outdoors & history
FerndaleMariposa
Trails4 mi1 mi
Conserved land15.2%7%
Settled1893—
National Register places74
Archive photos14—
Famous people born here7—
Community
FerndaleMariposa
Library hours a week32 hrs48 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

314 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

FerndaleCAMariposaCA
Ferndale ↔ Mariposa314 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

FerndaleMariposa
People
Population 1,552Highest 1,137Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2%Highest CA: +6.1% -29.8%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 61.2±3.5Highest 61% above CA 59±11.8Lowest 56% above CA
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 7.7%±2.9Lowest CA: 22% 12.9%±7Highest CA: 22%
Mariposa and Ferndale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 36%±4.1Lowest CA: 15.7% 41.6%±10.1Highest CA: 15.7%
Mariposa and Ferndale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 32.1%Lowest CA: 37.1% 38%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±3Highest CA: 7.6% 2.2%±3.1Lowest CA: 7.6%
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $63,142±$14kHighest 36% below CA $40,772±$20kLowest 59% below CA
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $542,000±$86kHighest 26% below CA $270,900±$110kLowest 63% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,028±$100Highest 50% below CA $593±$131Lowest 71% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,130 39% below CA —
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.5%±18.9Lowest CA: 55.3% 58.1%±16.2Highest CA: 55.3%
Mariposa and Ferndale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13%Lowest CA: 12% 37.1%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.6%Highest CA: 55.9% 50.6%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1953Lowest 23 yrs older than CA 1975Highest 1 yr older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minLowest 8% below CA 35 minHighest 21% above CA
Work from home 16%±9.7Highest CA: 17.2% 8%±10Lowest CA: 17.2%
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 13.6%Lowest 19.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.3 miLowest 43.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.11Lowest 4.51Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Eureka (19%)Yosemite Valley (6%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MariposaFew work in Ferndale
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 15.2%Highest 7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.6 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 3.0 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.0Highest 29.6Lowest
Schools
School district Ferndale UnifiedMariposa County Unified
High school in town Ferndale HighMariposa County High
Students per teacherat that high school 11.3Lowest 16.3Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Ferndale neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ferndale’s Town Square.

Mariposa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mariposa’s Town Square.

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Towns like Ferndale

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Mount Shasta3,182 people · $330K homes
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Dunsmuir1,407 people · $279K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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